PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. —
“I think Jordan was just trying to make sure that I was doing the right thing,” McIlroy said. “I was pretty sure that my ball had crossed where I was sort of dropping it. It’s so hard, right? Because there was no TV evidence. I was adamant. But I think, again, he was just trying to make sure that I was going to do the right thing.”
McIlroy had already taken his drop when his playing partners had questions. Spieth was heard to say, “We don't know for sure that it crossed the line.”At one point it appeared to get testy between Spieth, McIlroy and caddie Harry Diamond. “I think my ball bounced above the red line, but it's not definitive,” McIlroy told the official. “I'm pretty comfortable it did. We're trying to check with TV and they can't say.”
“I think at the end of the day we’re all trying to protect ourselves, protect the field, as well,” McIlroy said after his round. “I wouldn’t say it was needless. I think he was just trying to make sure that what happened was the right thing.” They also disagree on whether LIV Golf players should be punished if they ever came back to the PGA Tour. McIlroy doesn't think they should.